Control mechanism for presses



J1me 1932- J. J. WALL-BILLICH ET AL CONTRQL MECHANISM FOR PREsSES Filed Nov. 24, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Potter A TTO RYE June 14, 1932. .1. J. WALLBILLICH ET AL 6 CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PRESSES Filed Nov. 24', 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet '2 (1,5,, J MIIIbZ-IZZW Q? Fleyd J Potter BY ATTORNEY.

June 14, 1932. J. J. WALLBILLICH ET AL 1,863,425v

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PRESSES Filed Nov. 24, 1928 4 sheets'-sheet 3 June 1932- J. J. WALLBILLICH ET AL 1,863,425 A CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PRESSES Filed Nov. 24, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet A TTORNEY.

John Q I /g ENTOIR Q Flag d J Potter BY 'Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN J. WALLBILLICH AND FLOYD J. POTTER, or DETROIT. MICHIGAN, assleuons To GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PRESSES Application filed November 24, 1928. Serial no. seine.

This invention relates to a control mechanism for presses, and has to do especially with a mechanism useful for punch presses which are often very large and require two or more operators.

- The object of the invention is the provision of a controlling mechanism which makes for safety in the use of the press so that the danger hazard of injury to the hands and arms of the operator or operators is reduced to a minimum.

The mechanism employs controlling dewill not operate until all of such contro ling devices are actuated. At the same time, however, any one of the devices may be actuated to stop the press while the ram is coming downwardly, if occasion for stopping the press for any reason presents itself. The invention can be carried out by utilizing a compressed air system as a controlling means.

Fig. 1 is a side view of a press equipped with the controlling mechanism, illustrating the various operating parts of the press, the valves, air cylinder etc., of the compressed air control system.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of a valve structure which has been found expedient for this purpose.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the valve taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section of the valve taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the valve members.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a composite figure illustrating an automatically connecting valve used in the controlling mechanism. which is actuated by a cam device associated with the press.

Fig. 8 is a section of this automatically acting valve taken on line 88 of Fig. 7

. 9 is a side elevation of the slide valve D mem er.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the various positions of'the valves etc., when the compressed air is admitted to the air cylinder ready for press operation.

Fig. 111s a similar diagrammatic view illustrating the valves in another position.

Fi 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating anot er position of the automatic valve.

A conventional press is enerally referencedl. This press has a ed plate 2for supporting a die 3, and a ram 4, for carrying a suitable punch 5. In stamping a iece of work the sameis placed over the die, with the ram in raised position whereupon the ram comes down and the punch enters the die. In the press shown, the ram is carried by connecting rods 6, in turn supported by a crankshaft 7. The crankshaft is rotated by means of suitable motor 8 and a shaft 9. A clutch device of any suitable form, such as the one shown in Fig. 1 is interposed between the motor and the ram. This clutch may take the form of clutch member 10 secured on shaft 9 to rotate therewith, but so that it can be reciprocated upon the shaft, and a clutch member 11 upon a sleeve 12 which telescopes over shaft 9. A gear 13 on sleeve 12 meshes with gear 14 on the crankshaft.

This type of clutch and other associated mechanism is shown for exemplary purposes only, inasmuch as any other type of clutch, such as the friction type, may be used. The clutch is operated by means of a pivoted arm 15, and link 16, which are arranged to reciprocate the clutch member 10 in the known manner. Preferably there is a brake construction provided for application of braking action on the moving parts of the press, when the clutch is opened. This brake is shown as taking the form of a shoe 17, arranged to frictionally engage clutch 11. The shoe may be operated by member 18 having a cam groove 19, in which a suitable pin or the like on the shoe is received and the member 18 may be connected as at 20 to the operating arm 15. This brake construction is likewise exemplary only, and the details of a brake construction in the press can be widely varied, and in fact forms no part in the present invent-ion in so far a the brake details are concerned.

It is to be understood that when the motor is operating continuously the press may be operated intermittently whenever desired by engaging the clutch, and upon disengagement of the clutch the brake is applied to stop the press. The invention herein centers around controlling mechanism for thus actuating the clutch and brake as will be now described.

Compressed air is advantageously used for this purpose and there is provided a cylinder 2.1, within which is a piston 22, having a piston rod 23. The piston rod 23 is operably associated with the link 16 as by means of bell-crank 24, pivoted as at 25, with one end thereof connected to the link 16, and the other to a link 26, .which is also connected to the piston rod. A head 27 is secured to the top of the cylinder.

Springs 28 are interposed between the head 27 and a bracket 29, which is secured to piston rod 23a, which extends downwardly from the ,piston. It will be observed from this construction that if the piston 22 is raised within the cylinder, the head 29 is raised against the action of the springs 28. When the piston is raised the clutch member 10 is caused to engage clutch member ill-through the various linkage described. The piston is to be raised by compressed air, and upon permitting discharge of the compressed air, the springs 28 push the head 29 together with the piston rod and piston, down to its posi tion of rest as shown in Fig. l with the clutch opened.

The air supply pipe or conduit is referenced 30, and the same may be provided with a suitable valve 31. The various air conduits and valves can probably be best understood by reference to the diagrammatic views of Figs. 10 and 11. The-supply conduit 30 is in communication with the operating cylinder 21, through two distinct air lines. One line is shown at 32 and in this line there is disposed the requisite number of controlling valves 33. Line 32 runs to an automatically acting valve 34. The main air conduit 30 is also connected to a conduit 35, which likewise runs to valve 34 and from valve 34 extends a line 36 which communicates directly with the air cylinder.

The valves 33 are controlling valves, designed to be manually actuated by an operator. In a large press of the kind shown there is an operator on each side of the press and accordingly four valves are used; two valves on each side of the press, and each valve requiring one hand of the operator to actuate the same. The valves are provided with suitable operating handles 40. (Fig. 1.)

The valve member in detail is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and consists of a body 41 designed to be pivoted as at 42 with a handle 43 for rocking-the same. This valve body has a port extending through the same as at 44. and a port 45, which makes connection with port 46 through passageway 47, extending through the body of'the valve. The valve member is provided with projection 48 adapted to receive a spring.

This valve member is disposed within a housing 50, and is pivotally mounted to be rocked within this housing upon pin 42", which extends through the opening 42. This housing has laterally extending tubular parts 51, which are provided with ports 52 for connection with the adjacent ends of the pipe line 32. lVithin each tubular extension is a suitable washer or packing member 53, which is urged against the face of the valve member 41 by spring 54. A plug 55 is screw-threaded into the end of the extension 51, and backs up the spring. It will be seen how the assembly is made by first mounting the valve member pivotally between the two housing parts 51 and then inserting the packing members, the springs, and finally completing the assembly by placing the plugs.

Inasmuch as there is one of these valves arranged to the left side and to the right side of an operator, the valves preferably are in the form of rights and lefts, and Figs. 2 to 6-inclusive show a right valve. The left' valve would be the same except that parts are reversed.

- Each valve is preferably acted upon by a spring 60 (Fig. 1). This spring normally holds the valve in the position, shown in Fig. 2. In this position the port 45 is in communication with the side of the conduit 32 which extends to the air cylinder. The port 45 communicates with the atmosphere through channel 47 and port 46, which last mentioned port is in'alignment with an outlet conduit 61.

I This position of the four valves 33 in the conduit line 32 is shown in Fig. 11, and it will be noted that each valve closes the conduit line 32. Beginning with the line 30 and following the conduit line 32 around with the passage of the air we first meet one of the valves which closes the line. If this first valve should be opened, the second valve closes the line. If the second valve be also open, either the third or fourth valve will close the line. So it will be seen that ifany one valve is in this inoperative position, in which the valve is normally held by the spring, the line 32 is closed so that no compressed air enters the operating cylinder in this position.

It will also be noted when each valve connects the cylinder to the atmosphere through the ports 45, 47, and 46, the air in the cylinder will flow backwardly through line 36, through valve 34, and will discharge to the atmosphere through any one of the valves. It will be seen, therefore, that all the valves 33 must be actuated from the position shown in Fig. 11 to that of Fig. 10 in order to admit atmosphere to the cylinder 21, whereuponthe piston is raised and the clutch engaged. When all the valves arethus moved the air line 32 is completely opened for. the ports 44 of the valves establish communication between the ports 32 in the valve casing (Fig. 3).

At this instant the ram of the press begins its downward movement. If any one of the valves is released, for it will be noted that the hands of the operators must hold the valves down against the action of the springs 60,the released valve immediately moves back to its exhaust position, as shown in Fig. 11, thereupon closing-the air line. The springs 28 push the piston down, and the air in the cylinder is discharged through the open valve, thus stopping the press.

Accordingly, in brief, all valves must be manually held open to efiect operation of the press, and the release of any one will stop the press by cutting off the air supply and permitting discharge of the air already in the operating cylinder.

At about the time the punch enters the die there is no-occasion for stopping the press. Also at this time it is desirable to permit the operators to release'the valves so that their 1 hands may be free to pick up the work to be acted upon by the press in the next operation. Accordingly, the invention provides for automatically maintaining the press in operation from this period until the ram reaches its uppermost position, or substantially its uppermost position, whereupon the press operation automatically stops.

This automatically controlling mechanism takes the form of a valve 34 heretofore mentioned. The valve 34 proper may be in the nature of a slide valve urged by springs 70 against an open cam 71 on the crankshaft 7, (Fig. 7). The cam 71 has a high side 71a and a low side 71?). The air conduit 32 connects with this valve, and also the air line 35 which may be termed the direct air line connects with the valve and from this valve extends a line 36 to the air cylinder. The valve 34 may be equipped with a roller 72a which rides upon the cam, and as the valve is reciprocated it alternately connects the lines 32 and 35 with the air cylinder at appropriate times to effect an automatic operation.

The valve 34 reciprocates and the valve body 34a provided with suitable air cham-- bers in each of which is mounted a suitable packing or washer 72, urged against the face of the valve 34 by spring 73 backed up by plug 74. v The valve 34 has suitable passage ways alternately establishing the air lines as above mentioned and these passage ways may be of L shape and they are referenced 7 5 and 76. In the position shown in Fig. 8 one passage way, as for example, 75, is establishing a connection between the conduit 32 and air line 36. When the valve reciprocates in its housing, passage way 75 is disaligned from its posltion shown in Fig. 8, whereupon the air passage way 76 establishes a connection between direct air line 35 and air line-36. In Figs. 10 and 11 establishment of air connection between air line 32 and the cylinder 4 is shown, and in Fig. 12 an establishment'between the direct air line 35 and the cylinder is shown.

Inasmuch as this slide valve is actuated directly from a cam 011 the crankshaft, its operation is synchronized with the movement of the ram of the press.

Referring now to the diagrammatic views 10, 11, and 12, the general operation in conjunction with this automatic valve will be described.

\Vhen the ram is in its uppermost position, and the press is inoperative, all ofthe valves 33 are in closed position as regards the air supply as shown in Fig. 11, in which position, all or any one will discharge to the atmosphere, air in the cylinder 21. Valve 34 connects line 36 and line 32. The press can be put into operation when, and only when, all of the valves 33 are actuated so that they move from their position shown in Fig. 11 to that of Fig. 10, thus establishing connection through the line 32. At this time the slide valve is in a position to connect the line 32 with line 36, thus completing the air line through all the valves to the cylinder 21.

The compressed air raises the piston which closes the clutch and the ram begins its downward movement. If for any reason it is desired to stop the press, any one of the valves 33 can be released so that it immediately goes back to its position s shown in Fig. 11, whereupon the air supply is out OK. The air in the piston discharges back through line 36, valve 34, and line 32, till it reaches the open released 'valve where the air discharges to the atmosphere.

When the ram reaches its lowermost position, or substantially its lowermost position,

and the punch is entering the die there is no further occasion for stopping the press. The cam 71 now functions to reciprocate the slide valve 34 and moves thesame into the diagrammatic position of Fig. 12. The air supply through the line 32 and the several control valves is now cut off. However, the direct air line 35 is connected to air line 36 so that the compressed air flows directly through the valve 34 to the cylinder 21. This position of the valve is maintained throughout half of the cycle, or in other words, until the ram again reaches its uppermost position.

- During this interval the operators may release the valves 33, .and the ram continues until it reaches its uppermost position. whereupon cam 71 permits actuation of the slide valve so that it moves back to the position shown in Fig. 11.

- in the cylinder discharges through the valve 34, and the nearest valve 33. It will be noted that only one of the valves 33 need to be in the position shown in Fig. 11 in order to stop the press.

As shown in Fig. 2, the valve handle 43 is limited in its movement by suitable adjust able devices such as set screws 80, which may be adjusted to nicely line the ports in the valve body with the ports in the valve hous- 1n".

The high safety factor in press operation, which is afforded by this invention is believed to be apparent from the above description. The press cannot be put into operation by any one operator. Where there is a plurality of operators each must actuate his controlling valves and hold the valves to effect press operation, and release of any one of the valves will stop the press up until the time the punch enters the die. The press, however, continues automatically so that the ram is raised to its uppermost position where it comes automatically to a stop. This is very advantageous because the operators may release their controlling valves for the last half of the operating cycle, thus permitting the operators to utilize this time. For example, the operators may grasp a new piece of work ready to be placed in the press for the next operation.

Upon the automatic stopping of the press by the functioning of the slide valve, in which action of the clutch is released, the brake is applied to quickly stop the ram so that the ram is always substantially in its uppermost position when thus automatically stopped.

Claims:

1. In a control system for a punch press, or similar machine, the combination of a com trolling cylinder with piston therein for controlling successive operations of the press by the power means, a compressed air supply conduit running to the cylinder for the purpose of actuating the piston, a plurality of valves disposed in series in this conduit in advance of the cylinder, each having a port for the passage of air therethrough, each valve having a second port which communicates to the atmosphere, this last mentioned port being arranged to communicate with the air cylinder to exhaust the air therein, the valve body being arranged to close the air line on the side of the supply thereof while the valve is in position to exhaust the cylinder, means for normally holding each of the valves in such position, and a handle or the like for each valve, adapted to be manually actuated to align the first mentioned port with the air conduit to permit compressed air to enter the cylinder.

2. In a control system for a punch press, or similar machine, the combination of a controlling cylinder with piston therein for controlling successive operations of the press by the power means, a compressed air supply conduit running to the cylinder for the purpose of actuating the piston, a plurality of valves disposed in series in this conduit in advance of the cylinder, each having a port for the passage of air therethrou h, each valve having a second port which communicates to the atmosphere, this last mentioned port being arranged to communicate with the air cylinder to exhaust the air therein, the valve body being arranged to close the air line on the slde of the supply thereof while the valve is in position to exhaust the cylinder, means for normally holding each of the valves in such position, a handle or the like for each valve, adapted to be manually actuated to align the first mentioned port with the air conduit to permit compressed air to enter the cylinder, and

means acting upon the piston to return the same to normal position when any one of the said valves is released.

3. The combination with a punch press or similar machine, of power means for actuating the same, a clutch device for making and breaking an operable connection between the power means and the machine, a cylinder, a piston within the cylinder operably associated with the clutch, an air supply conduit connected into the cylinder at one end only, a plurality of controlling valves positioned in this air conduit arranged in series in the conduit each having a plurality of ports, means for normally holding each valve in conduit closing position and cylinder opening position, spring means for normally holding the clutch in disengaged position, said valves being actuatable to admit air into the cylinder and effect engagement with the clutch, and any one of the valves being actuatable to open the cylinder to the atmosphere to disengage the clutch.

4. The combination with a punch press or similar machine, of power means for actuating the same, a clutch device for making and breaking an operable connection between the power means and the machine, a cylinder, a piston within the cylinder operably associated with the clutch, an air supply conduit connected into the cylinder, a plurality of controlling valves positioned in this air conduit arranged in series in the conduit, means for normally holding each valve in conduit closing position, means for normally holding the clutch in disengaged position, said valves being actuatable to admit air into the cylinder and effect engagement with the clutch, each of said valves having a port, each of which is in communication with the cylinder and the atmosphere when the air supply is closed whereby to permit exhaust of air in the cylinder, and means normally holding the piston in clutch opening position.

5. The combination with a punch press or similar machine, of a control device for efiecting intermittent operations of the machine, which control device is operable by fluid pressure, a conduit leading to the control device, a valve in the conduit, a fluid pressure supply line, a second conduit directly connecting this valve with the supply line, a third conduit connecting the valve to the fluid supply line, a plurality of control valves positioned in this third conduit which are operable to open and close said conduit, and means operating in timed relation to the movements of the press to actuate said first named valve for alternately establishing and breaking the connection of the said second and third named air lines with the control device.

6. The combination with a punch press or similar machine, of a control device consisting of a controlling piston within a cylinder, a compressed air conduit in communication with a cylinder, a plurality of valves in this conduit adapted to admit air to the cylinder upon actuation of all valves, a direct compressed airline, an automatically acting valve associated with both air lines and establishing the direct air line upon a predetermined amount of movement of the press, whereby to permitclosing of the control valves with continued operation of the press, and means for automatically actuating this last men tioned valve to cut out the direct air line, and cut in the air line with the valves to effect stoppage of the press.

7. The combination, with a punch press or the like, of a compressed air control means consisting of a cylinder and piston, an air supply line extending to the cylinder, a control valve in the line constructed to open the line and close the same and to permit exhaust of air in the cylinder backwardly through the line, a second air line running to the cylinder, a valve means associated with both air lines, and means operating in timed relation to the press to actuate said last named valve for closing the air line with the control valve after a predetermined amount of movement of the press and for opening thedirect line to veffect continued operation of the press, and

for closing the direct line to cease press operation.

8. The combination, with a punch press or the like, of a compressed air control means consisting of a cylinder and piston, an air supply line extending to the cylinder, a control valve in the line constructed to open the line and close the same, and to permit exhaust of air in the cylinder backwardly through the line, a second air line running to the cylinder, a valve means associated with both air lines, means operatin on this valve in timed relation to the press Tor closing the air line with the control valve after a predetermined amount of movement of the press and for opening the direct line to efi'ect continued operation of the press, and for closing the direct line to cease press operation, whereby to permit of release of the control valve during the period of the direct line connection, said control valve having a discharge port which permits discharge of the air within the controlling cylinder upon the reestablishing of the connection with the said first line by the means operating upon the second named valve.

9. The combination, with a punch press or the like, of an air cylinder, a piston therein movable to effect intermittent operations of the press, an air line extending to the cylinder, a control valve in this air line constructed to establish the air connection in one position, and to break the air connection and permit exhaust of air in the cylinder in another position, whereby the press may be started or stopped by actuation of the valve, a direct air conduit, another valve associated with both conduits, means acting in conjunction with the press for actuating the second named valve to open the direct air conduit to the cylinder after the ram of the press has traveled a predetermined distance, whereby the control valve may be closed, said means acting upon the second named valve means when the ram approaches'its uppermost position to cut off the direct air supply and reestablish the airline with the control valve to stop the press.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signa- 

